Iceland 6-Day Self-Drive Tours & Itineraries

Explore 10 self-drive trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Iceland.

With six days to explore Iceland, you can choose from our carefully planned self-drive itineraries to make the most of your time in this beautiful country. If you're drawn to mystical landscapes and lesser-visited locales, consider a journey like this Iceland West Coast road trip, where you'll discover the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and kayak in crystal clear waters. For those wanting to explore the Arctic and its abundant wildlife, a route like this Northern Iceland itinerary gives you the chance to soak in geothermal pools, encounter whales, and marvel at the pseudocraters around Lake Mývatn. If you're traveling with kids, consider something similar to this South Coast family road trip, which provides an enriching experience with opportunities to interact with Icelandic ponies, explore waterfalls, and even ride horseback on a black sand beach.

See more Iceland Self-Drive Tours & Itineraries.

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See Skógafoss, along the Golden Circle
Map of Best of Iceland's South Coast & Golden Circle - 6 Days
Best of Iceland's South Coast & Golden Circle - 6 Days

Starting in Reykjavík, this six-day Icelandic road trip lets you visit classic highlights along the country's south coast, including waterfalls, black sand beaches, basalt columns, massive glaciers, and icebergs at your own pace. You'll then join the popular Golden Circle route, where you can see Gullfoss waterfall, the geothermal area of Geysir (watch Strokkur erupt like clockwork), and Þingvellir National Park, where tectonic plates meet. Finish the adventure with a soak in the Blue Lagoon before your return flight home.

Walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Map of Iceland South Coast Family Road Trip - 6 Days
Iceland South Coast Family Road Trip - 6 Days

Drive Iceland's south coast for a memorable family adventure in just under a week. After getting to know Reykjavik, you'll check off blockbuster natural sites in the Golden Circle like Thingvellir, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. Finish the self-guided tour with two nights among glaciers and black sand beaches in Vik and the Skaftafell area.

Seljalandsfoss
Map of Iceland: East Fjords, South Coast, & Golden Circle - 6 Days
Iceland: East Fjords, South Coast, & Golden Circle - 6 Days

Make the most of your limited time by driving one way from Egilsstaðir to Vík to Reykjavík—without retracing your steps. On this six-day road trip, take in the dramatic landscapes of the Eastern Fjords, from Seyðisfjörður to Vatnajökull National Park, and enjoy more time seeing new places along the South Coast (Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Skógafoss, and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls) and Golden Circle (Gullfoss, Geysir, and Þingvellir National Park), rather than doubling back. You can embark on this route in either direction, but a domestic flight to Egilsstaðir at the beginning of your trip is more efficient, without large crowds, to explore remote areas on your own terms.

Seljalandsfoss
Map of Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, & Westman Islands - 6 Days
Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, & Westman Islands - 6 Days

Explore the Golden Circle on this well-balanced, self-drive itinerary featuring both popular stops and hidden gems. First, drive to Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall, followed by a relaxing soak in the Secret Lagoon. Next, head to the South Coast to stunning waterfalls—Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss—and visits to Reynisfjara Beach, Vík, and the otherworldly Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Then, explore the glacial areas of Skaftafell, Svartifoss, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, followed by a day to discover the lesser-known Westman Islands. Return to Reykjavík for some sightseeing and tour the Reykjanes Peninsula—plus a stop for a final soak in the Blue Lagoon—before your departure flight home.

A black sand beach near Vik
Map of Iceland West & South Coast Highlights - 6 Days
Iceland West & South Coast Highlights - 6 Days

This 6-day itinerary includes three key areas of Iceland for a spectacular, fast-paced road trip. Spend your first day getting a taste of downtown Reykjavik before you head to the volcanic Snaefellsnes Peninsula with a bit of everything (and a fraction of the crowds). You'll then spend a night in one of Iceland's most-popular regions, the Golden Circle, and visit the best sites after the bus tours are long gone. Wrap it up with a day along the south coast exploring massive waterfalls and black sand beaches.

Lake Mývatn
Map of Best of Northern Iceland: Arctic Coast & Lake Mývatn - 6 Days
Best of Northern Iceland: Arctic Coast & Lake Mývatn - 6 Days

New visitors and returning travelers who’ve experienced the Golden Circle and South Coast can enjoy the best of Northern Iceland—without the crowds. First, explore Glymur Falls in West Iceland, followed by visits to turf houses, the Hvitserkur rock formation, and geothermal pools along the Arctic Coast. Next, tour Akureyri, the stunning Goðafoss Waterfall, and Lake Mývatn at length. Then, go whale watching in Husavik, before heading back west to discover the highlights of Reykjavík and the Reykjanes Peninsula, with a relaxing grand finale at the Blue Lagoon.

Iceland's lesser-visited west coast
Map of Iceland West Coast Road Trip - 6 Days
Iceland West Coast Road Trip - 6 Days

This unique self-drive tour travels through Iceland's beautiful west coast and Westfjords region, where few travelers roam. Starting in Reykjavík, you'll drive to the volcanic Snaefellsnes Peninsula before taking a car ferry to some of the most dramatic landscapes in Iceland. Here you'll hike the jagged cliffs at Londrangar, visit black, gold, and red sand beaches, and see the powerful Dynjandi Waterfall. End the trip in Isafjordur—a great base for activities in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, accessible only by boat and trail.

Northern Lights & Snowboarding on Iceland's South Coast : 6 Days
Northern Lights & Snowboarding on Iceland's South Coast : 6 Days

Looking for an eventful winter vacation? The South Coast of Iceland is chock-full of fun winter activities, from glacier hiking to snowboarding, snowmobiling and more. If you're lucky, you'll have the chance to witness the unparalleled beauty of the Northern Lights that often grace the crisp Arctic sky. Here's our recommended way to spend the winter on Iceland's South Coast.

Seljalandsfoss
Map of Iceland Winter Highlights: Snowmobiling, Glacier Hikes & Ice Caves - 6 Days
Iceland Winter Highlights: Snowmobiling, Glacier Hikes & Ice Caves - 6 Days

Experience an entirely different side of Iceland on a winter road trip to explore all the highlights. Grab your coat and head to downtown Reykjavík, which offers incredible views this time of year. Then, head to the Golden Circle to visit the white-washed version of Gullfoss, followed by an action-packed snowmobiling adventure to Langjökull Glacier. Next, discover Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls—complete with frozen fields—and embark on glacier hikes, ice cave tours, and ice climbing excursions at Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. On the way back to Reykjavík, enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Rekjadalur, followed by a stop at the Blue Lagoon to close out the trip.

Escape the crowds and explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Map of Western Iceland Family Road Trip - 6 Days
Western Iceland Family Road Trip - 6 Days

This self-drive itinerary includes a mix of off-the-beaten-path gems and Icelandic highlights for the ultimate family adventure. Grab your rental car and head west for hiking, lava fields, and small fishing towns along the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Then, check out a number of blockbuster sights in the Golden Circle before one last night on the town in Reykjavik.

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